Perch-coupling for carriages



W. s. LORD.

Running-Gear.

Patented Oct 28. 1856.

1 N. PETERSA PHOTD'UTHOGHAPH ER, WASHINGTON. D. C,

WILLIAMS. Loan, or PULAsm, TENNESSEE.

PERGI-I-COUPLING FOR CARRIAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,979, dated October 28, 1856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. S. LORD, of

, Pulaski, in Gilescounty and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Perch-Couplings for Four- WVheeled Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing through letters ofreference marked thereon, in which Figure 1, is a plan of the running gear of a carriage constructed with my improvement; Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the same the rear side wheels being removed.

The same letters of reference.occurring in both figures indicate corresponding parts.

In the construction of four wheeled vehicles for city use it is an essential consideration to make themso as to turn with safety in the smallest possible space. To this end a great variety of plans have been adopted, among the best of which are those wherein the fore-axletree is connected with the perch by arrranging the king-boltat a short distance to the rear of the axletree, with the end of the perch overlapping the axletree; in turning a carriage constructed on this plan, it is obvious that the end of the perch will describe the arc of a circle, with regard to the axletree, and when on the look its end will not reach the axletree. It is therefore necessary to arrange some support in the form of a turn-table for it to rest upon; by another arrangement a projection from the under side of the perch near its end ismade to traverse in a grooved plate on the top of the axletree, while another projection or bolt under the perch a short distance rearward of the fore axletree traverses in a groove or' slotted bar connected with said axletree at right angles thereto. This while it insures a bearing to the end of the perch in all positions upon the axle and enables the carriage to turn in less space than the former plan, is in itself very imperfect and objectionable on account of the dirt collecting in the grooves obstructing the motion and wearing out the wrist pins that traverse them very rapidly so that it soon becomes a noisy and disagreeable arrangement, to say nothing about its durability which cannot be very great.

To remedy these defects is the object of my invention, and which consists in connecting the fore-axletree of a carriage with the perch by means of links hinged to a cross bar on the perch in such manner and position that in turning the vehicle the end of the perch shall traverse in a parallel line or thereabout along the axletree, and thus avoid the necessity of any other bearing for it to rest upon, while all the connections being made with bolts or pins in the form of hinges move with less friction and are less liable to get out of repair than any sliding motion to accomplish the same result.

To enable others to make and use my invention I will describe its construction and operationby referring to the drawing.

To the perch (A) is rigidly attached a cross bar (B) whose length is about equal to its distance from the front end of the perch. To the ends of this bar are hinged or jointed stays (0) which are similarly connected at their other ends with the fore axletree at points about double the distance apart of the length of the cross-bar (B) and equidistant from the center of the aXletree.

When the carriage is running in a direct line the end of the perch rests upon the axletree immediately at its center, and when turned upon the lock or less the point of the perch is found to travel in a parallel line along the aXletree and the front wheels are brought nearer to their axis of motion turning a curve, and will consequently turn an entire circle in much less space than when the king bolt is passed directly through the perch and axle, or through the perch in rear of the axle.

. The proportions above given may be va ried a little without causing the travel of the end of the perch to differ materially from the parallel line.

The advantages of this arrangement over all others in use for a similar purpose consist in its simplicity cheapness and durability; the turn plate ordinarily used is entirely dispensed with, and there is no other support required for the perch than the aXletree, and the joints being all of the hinge character working upon centers, are more durable, cheaper and less liable to get out of repair than any sliding mot-ion.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Coupling the fore axletree of a carriage or other vehicle to the perch, by means of scribe my name this 23 day of September a cross-bar (B) attachedto the perch at 1856.

a suitable distance in rear of the axle in combination With connecting links (0) ar- LORD 5 ranged and operating substantially as here- Witnesses:

in described. JAMES H. LESTER,

In testimony whereof I hereunto sub- CLARKAM H. LAMBETH. 

